Consistency in behavior: Evaluation of behavior tests in laboratory beagles

In the present report, we analyzed the consistency in the behavior of laboratory dogs in 4 standardized tests (an encounter test with a familiar caretaker, an encounter test with an unfamiliar test person, a simulation of experimental manipulation and a complex behavior test) that were conducted on 2 consecutive days. We further analyzed whether the dogs ’ behavior in the subsequent tests could be predicted by the preceding tests. Data of 90 laboratory beagles kept in 4 research facilities were reevaluated for this purpose by using Kruskal’s gamma, Spearman’s rank correlation and simple linear regression.

Source: Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research - July 28, 2017 Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Dorothea D öring, Barbara E. Haberland, Alexander Bauer, Britta Dobenecker, Rüdiger Hack, Jörg Schmidt, Michael H. Erhard Source Type: research